Read Online Love Online (Truly Yours Digital Editions) by Kristin Billerbeck, Nancy Toback - Free Book Online

for the gander, and I signed up for Love Online. So, while you’re seeing Internet Woman, I’ll be seeing Internet Man.” Jess pulled in a long breath. “And I hope he’s a Ben Affleck look-alike.”
    “You know, you are stubborn to a fault.”
    “Yeah? Well, have fun with Internet Woman.” Jess bit her quivering lip. I hope she’s Quasimodo in a dress.
    “Do you need a lift home?” Tom asked through clenched teeth.
    Jess shook her head and swallowed around the lump of grief in her throat. “See you later.” She pivoted and walked forward quickly, forcing buoyancy into her steps.
    A truck rumbled past, puffing out black clouds of smoke. If Tom called her name, she couldn’t hear above the clamor. But wishful thinking battled against what she knew without turning back.
    Jess picked up her pace and knuckled the tear at the corner of her eye. Their perfect friendship had changed. Only for the worse.
    ❧
    “What possessed you to do such a nutty thing? I left one detail up to you and—oh, man. I can’t go to Flavors with her.” Tom pushed back from his desk. He should’ve known he’d live to regret introducing Linda’s friend to Frank through E-mail. But Linda had been adamant about making their first meeting a double date.
    Frank held up his hands in a motion of surrender. “Flavors is our favorite haunt, and Wednesday is Jessica’s day off—you said so yourself.” He smiled, not winning any points. “I thought we’d impress the girls with—”
    “They’re women , Frank.” Tom cupped his hand to the bunched muscles in his neck. “The last thing I want is to run into Jess when I’m with Linda.” He shoved back his shirt cuff and glanced at his watch. “I’ll send Linda an E-mail. Let her know there’s been a change of plans.”
    “At this late date?” Frank got to his feet. “She’ll never see it.”
    Tom continued glaring at the culprit, his mind racing. “Unless you have a phone number for Linda’s friend.”
    “Brittany?” Frank shook his head. “Nope.”
    Tom nodded his defeat. “I thought I told you to make dinner plans at Harry’s.” He stood, gazing out the window blankly at the ominous black sky between buildings. “Be aware—I’m going to pummel you if Jess is working tonight. If she doesn’t pummel me first, that is.”
    “What’s up with that anyway?”
    Tom twisted toward Frank’s annoyed voice. “I don’t want to add insult to injury.” Jess had every right to be angry. He had practically mocked her when she wanted to join Love Online. And now this.
    “What?” Frank shrugged. “You’re acting like you’re married to Jess or something.”
    Tom dropped to the edge of his desk and sighed. “It’ll make for an uncomfortable situation, that’s all.”
    Folding his arms, Frank quirked his brow. “Another mystery solved.”
    “Forget it.” Tom went around the desk and lifted his suit jacket from the back of the chair. “They’re meeting us in front of Flavors, right?” He walked to the door with Frank on his heels, flicked off the lights, and locked up. As they strode through the red-carpeted foyer, resentment burned in him.
    “Yeah, why?” Frank finally said, his voice bouncing off the walls in the large, marble-floored reception area. He punched the elevator button, and the doors opened immediately. “Forget to slip off your wedding band?”
    Touché . They stepped into the mirrored elevator, and the doors closed with a soft bing . As they descended to the lobby, Tom watched a grinning Frank drag his hand through his dark hair, appearing pleased with his ill-conceived plan.
    “I guess this is your way of helping me get over Jess?” Tom ground out the words before exiting the elevator.
    “That is rich.” Frank snorted a laugh and gave him a jab in the arm. “You requested the honor of my presence at this gig.”
    Tom hesitated, clamped his jaw, and pushed open the glass door. No sense arguing with a guy who just didn’t get it. They strode to